Elodie simply ignored Carlott with a blank face.
Ironically, when Carlott spewed vitriol at Elodie, the servants excessively comforted him. It was he who was behaving badly, but he received looks of pity.
“I’m pitiful. My parents’ relationship is bad because of the bastard.”
People’s attention pleased him.
Though his parents’ relationship was still barren, and Carlott only fulfilled his formal obligations.
Young Carlott’s time flew by quickly.
A few years later, impulsively heading towards the annex, Carlott inadvertently hid behind a large tree, drawn by the sound of sobbing.
Elodie Ferdia was crying.
“I want to die, nanny. It’s not like I wanted to be born.”
“You mustn’t say such things, Miss…”
Elodie’s nanny hugged her, contorting her face, but Elodie’s slender shoulders still trembled.
“You wish I was dead too, don’t you, nanny? A filthy bastard…”
“Oh dear, who in the world would say such a thing…!”
“Is Mom really dead? Can’t she take me with her?”
“Good heavens! You must never speak of her. His Lordship will be furious. You understand?”
The sight of Elodie, who had always ignored him, crying and saying she wanted to die, was a shock to Carlott.
After overhearing that conversation, Carlott no longer called Elodie a bastard.
But the relationship, already warped, could not be mended.
The two were busy hurting and clawing at each other.
Perhaps the hatred had become a habit.
.
.
.
Why did the memories of childhood resurface now?
Carlott tousled his hair roughly, grinding his teeth.
“Where have you gone, you fool…”
The esteemed Ferdia’s power, praised as extraordinary, was of no use in finding a missing person.
‘Should I inform Father? No, if I do, he might think I’m incompetent.’
Being an incompetent child was worse than death.
So he couldn’t reveal Elodie’s disappearance.
Carlott began to wander around again, looking for Elodie.
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]In the distance, the towering spire of the magic tower came into view.
There are a total of four magic towers on the continent, each guarding one of the four directions. The one I had found was the western tower, the Sombnia branch.
Suddenly, I realized that the sunlight was dazzling and my hand felt light.
“Ah, I left my parasol behind.”
It was my favorite parasol.
If I went back to find it and ran into Carlott, whom I had taken great pains to shake off, it would be troublesome. In the end, I gave up the parasol and hastened my steps.
From the beginning, when I decided to go out today, the plan was to shake off Carlott and act alone.
Since hiding among a large crowd was the best way to deceive Carlott’s nearly masterlevel swordsmanship, I intentionally lured him to a busy patisserie.
There were many calculations behind this plan.
“Carlott won’t inform the Duke right away.”
Proud Carlott’s character would mean he wouldn’t immediately announce that his escort target had disappeared.
Probably, if he realized that I had disappeared, he would search the surroundings himself.
It was not unexpected for it to reach the Duke’s ears, but he hoped that it wouldn’t go that far.
If he was found out that he pushed Carlott aside and went somewhere, he might be punished again.
Arriving at the patisserie before that was the goal.
“I’ll make an excuse that I went to a nearby café because I was thirsty.”
Thinking of an excuse, I stepped inside the tower.
A spiral staircase that stretched to the top of the tower caught my eye with its unique interior structure.
As I headed to the reception, a staff member greeted me with a friendly smile.
“Welcome, guest. What are you looking for?”
“I’m going to invest in the tower business.”
“Recently, investment in gold mines is lively. Are you interested in that?”
Of course, investing in gold mines was good, but it was difficult to make a huge profit since many people were investing in them.
The place I was going to invest in was already decided.
“I heard that there is a named sponsorship investment.”
“Ah, yes. Of course. Do you have a magician in mind?”
“I will invest the entire amount in the magician Elvie.”
The employee’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Exc…?”
“It’s 8,000 Lariet.”
With a startled face, the employee took the moneyfilled purse.
It was a natural reaction.
Magician Elvie was a new recruit, a lowranking magician who wasn’t even in the investment advertisement.
“Are you really investing all 8,000 Lariet?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to think again? There are better investment products.”
“No. I will invest the full amount.”
There was a reason for investing in magician Elvie.
The magical tool that this magician would invent soon would become a tremendous hit, making a vast fortune, according to the book.
Since my attitude was firm, the employee gave up persuading further and handed me the magical contract.
It was a contract that could prove the parties’ authenticity through magic to prevent disguise and forgery.
“Please tell me your name.”
I didn’t have to use my real name since it was a magical contract anyway.
In case I used my real name and this money was traced, and my authority was ultimately exposed, it seemed good to use a pseudonym.
But why did my mother’s name come to mind?
‘Arselia…….’
Chewing on that name, I answered the waiting employee.
“Lily Arsel.”
My nickname was Lily, but the name Lily was common. So, there would be no one who would associate me with that name.
“Yes, Lily Arsel. It has been accepted.”
Having completed the last errand of the day perfectly, I left the tower immediately.
Will Carlott be at the patisserie when I return? Or should I go back to the mansion right away?
‘You never know. There might be a big fuss when I get back.’
With a “whatever happens, happens” mentality, I was heading towards the patisserie.
Someone hurriedly ran up and grabbed my shoulder.
‘Carl…?’
I thought it was Carlott, but it was not.
A remarkably tall height with a robust physique.
Darker than darkness, black hair, and captivating red eyes.
An exceptionally handsome man, rarely seen.
He licked his lips.
“……Found.”
‘What is he saying?’
I didn’t hear him clearly, so I squinted and focused, and one word came through clearly in my ear.
“Yoon Gaeul.”
“……!”
It was a strange experience. It felt as if the voice was etching itself into my eardrums.
At that moment, my thoughts stopped.
Those desperate red eyes staring at me.
I hesitated and stepped back.
“You…… What are you?”
This man, why does he know my previous life’s name?
When male lead is the homewrecker
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
I’ve read the novel below twice already. Girls, I’m highly recommending it to you!
The female lead? Not a good person.
The second male lead? Not a good person.
The male lead? Willingly plays the third party, breaking up the female and second male lead’s relationship despite all the warnings from his friends—so yeah, he’s definitely not a good person either.
Basically, nobody in this novel is simple-minded or without scheming.
The female lead starts off as the male lead’s secretary, but don’t worry—later on, she takes over the company while the male lead steps back to support her. He won’t steal her spotlight, overshadow her, or dull her shine.
I love novels where men are out here snatching wigs, tearing each other down, and going to war just to win the female lead’s affection. And this is exactly that kind of novel. Most of Hai Dai Ran’s works have this dynamic. You’ll see the male characters’ emotions being pushed to the absolute extreme.
There’s even a scene where the second male lead exposes the male lead online for being a homewrecker. The brotherhood immediately gangs up on him, dragging him through the mud. I find it compelling —it completely flips reality on its head, where usually, women are the ones fighting over a man and getting torn apart by the sisterhood.
For me, female leads in the novels I read should only struggle in their careers, not in love. But if the brainless romantics in the story are all men? I have zero complaints.
I’ve pretty much read all of Hai Dai Ran’s novels and even translated all of them—her works are just my thing. I’ll slowly upload everything here. One day, when my website is official, I hope I can invite her to join as one of the star authors.
Here’s the story synopsis:
One-line summary: She is his lifelong obsession, to the point where he was willing to be a third wheel, scorned by society, just to wedge his way into her relationship with her fiancé.
Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead
Intro 1:
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
With blood trickling from his clenched fist, Rong Xiu gazed at the woman before him, his eyes clouded with anguish. Hidden in the wardrobe, he had witnessed Fan Xia – the woman he desperately loved – in an intimate embrace with her fiancé. Yet his heart still yearned for her, defying all reason.
Fan Xia, the elegant and composed assistant, carried something mysterious in her eyes whenever she looked at her fiancé, Wen Lan Sheng. Strange occurrences began to surface – secret meetings with the young Gu Jin Yi, an unexplained withdrawal of 5,000 yuan… Then suddenly, her fiancé’s sister, Wen Jing, violently attacked her.
In this matriarchal society, Rong Xiu had risen to become the chairman of a powerful healthcare conglomerate, breaking through gender prejudices. But for the first time, he willingly stepped into the shadows as the other man, disregarding his friends’ warnings to become her secret lover.
Because he had discovered the truth – Fan Xia wasn’t the pure angel everyone believed her to be. And perhaps, he was the only one capable of helping her execute her mysterious plan…
Intro 2:
Rong Xiu’s biggest regret in life was missing out on Fan Xia.
He secretly loved Fan Xia for 7 years.
Watched her go public with her boyfriend.
Watched her kiss her boyfriend at their wedding.
Until that man blissfully nestled in Fan Xia’s arms, obtaining everything he could only dream of.
The crazy jealousy stripped away his hidden secret love, layer by layer, burning like wildfire.
Fan Xia, how can I have you!
【Reading and Trigger Warning Guide】
1. Female dominant, male submissive, male pregnancy
2. Male lead schemes his way to the top, male competition
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Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
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